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HONORED VESSELS. II Timothy 2:20-22. 10/23/2022. #7.
20 But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay, some for honor and some for dishonor. 21 Therefore if anyone cleanses himself from the latter, he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified and useful for the Master, prepared for every good work. 22 Flee also youthful lusts; but pursue righteousness, faith, love, peace with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.
1. Vessels in God’s house
a. II Corinthians 4:7 Paul describes as treasure in earthen vessels (I Corinthians 6:19-20 temples of God)
b. Paul compares us to vessels again
a1. Each house has common vessels (trash cans, soup bowls, mugs…) and honored vessels (fancy vases, heirlooms, art…)
a2. In God’s house, there are common vessels (those who did not bear much fruit) and honored vessels (spiritual servants)
c. Moses, Daniel, Paul, and John are honored vessels
d. Many of the Cor. believers were common vessels
e. We choose whether to be an honored vessel or not by our obedience or disobedience to God (I Corinthians 3)
2. The honored vessels
a. Three qualifications to be an honored vessel:
a1. Self-cleaning – repents of sin and follows a moral, obedient, godly life
a2. Sanctified life – a life set apart from sin to God and holiness (dedicated to serving God)
a3. Useful to God – God can use the sanctified life to accomplish his purposes
b. God accomplishes his will through us
a1. He involves his followers in his work
a2. We are rewarded for being his tools
c. All believers will be with the Lord eternally
a1. Some will be more rewarded than others
a2. Regrets for not serving the Lord fully
a3. Romans 8:18 trials for serving God are worth it
d. We are prepared by God to do good works (a choice)
3. The third warning
a. Paul warned Timothy to stay away from three pitfalls:
a1. Avoid timidity or cowardice – he had not been given a spirit of fear (reticence), but of love (charity), power (dynamism), and a sound mind (solid reasoning)
a2. Avoid error – to guard the truth in yourself and protect the flock against error
a3. Avoid immorality – flee youthful lusts
b. Paul doesn’t say to teach others to flee youthful lusts (a part of it), but tells this to Timothy directly
a1. Did Paul know that Tim. struggled with this?
a2. Or…is this a universal problem of all men?
c. There is a particular temptation for church leaders
a1. Dealing with women in the church could produce compromising situations
a2. We are not told it Tim. was married or not
a3. Temptation doesn’t stop for the married man
a4. A young single minister (I Timothy 4:12) is particularly vulnerable (older men are not immune to having temptation issues)
d. Paul has only one solution to enticement: FLEE!
a1. Hormonal temptation can’t be reasoned with
a2. Genesis 39 Joseph fled from Mrs. Potiphar
e. Paul gives five traits to guard against temptation
a1. Pursue righteousness – must be an intentional focus to seek out Word and godly living
a2. Pursue faith – an increasing in knowing and serving God (Romans 10:17; II Peter 3:18)
a3. Pursue love – doing what is right by others
a4. Pursue peace – lust causes disharmony with others, disrupting the body of Christ
a5. Seek a pure heart – must guard our motivations, treating others with respect (1 Tm. 5:2)
f. Guarding against immorality is full time (II Samuel 11)
a1. Staying away from compromising situations
a2. Philippians 4:8 guarding one’s thoughts
a3. I Corinthians 7 guarding one’s heart
g. Timothy and all of us must focus on loving and serving Lord